How I've missed you all! Unexpected events popped up which took over our lives for a bit. Now, thankfully, everyone is fine and we are all adjusting to a new normal.
One of our adjustments is a low-fat diet - which I'm loving! Full disclosure: I do treat myself to the occasional donut from Krispy Kreme when I visit my parents!
Another change is that I have dived a bit more into scrapbooking planning with the Happy Planners. It's been fun sharing memories as well as recording new events with my family. I'm also enjoying playing with paper and stickers. You can see the fun I'm having on my Instagram account!
Yet another change my leap into a new computer using Windows 10. Yikes! I'm learning from the best - my hubby. Thankfully, he can answer many of my questions!
On more change is two new additions to my sewing room: a Bernina 790 and Bernina 480!
The learning curve, I had a 350, is not too bad, more oblique than vertical. Our local quilt shop, Be Sew Creative, offers not only mastery classes for their machines, but also sewing and embroidery classes - all via Zoom! Another source of support for me is my daughter who has a Bernina 880 and is a fabulous teacher!
I'm looking forward to catching up with all of you and rejoining Bloglandia!
Without further ado, let's roll!
Saturday's Song: Only Jesus
Like many of you, we've lost loved ones and friends to COVID, cancer and tragic circumstances. I heard this song and thought how true these lyrics are:
And I, I've only got one life to live
I'll let very second point to Him
Only Jesus
And I,
I don't want to leave a legacy
I don't care if they remember me,
Only Jesus
How true. Many times, we wonder, "Who will I leave my home to? Who will I leave my jewelry to?"
It doesn't matter, really it doesn't.
Let's leave a legacy of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Friend.
Saturday's Song Does it feel like your're facing another heartbreak day?
Here's the lyrics if you'd like to reflect more on them. Keep moving on my Dear Reader. Let me be honest. This. Quaratnine. Is. Tough. I'm struggling just like you are. I have days that I all I can do is sleep. I bet you have, too. I have days that I cry. I bet you have, too. I have lonely days. I bet you have, too. I have days that I am close to losing hope. I bet you have, too. My family has experienced great loss alone during this time. I bet some of you have as well. But God is faithful. He is here. He is trying to grow a new thing, a new me, a new you, a new world. The LORD is working through my church's sermons to keep me moving. Today's sermon made a few good points. Here is one of my takeaways. Whose voice will I listen to? Will I be like the person Pastor talked about who read the newspaper with the Bible next to them? They didn't let the newspaper tell them what was going to happen, instead they read what God had to say about the future. But God says.... Will I view circumstances through the lens of hope/hoplessness?
His sermon as well as his sermon notes are a huge part of my victorious journey via these times. Let's reach out and share what is getting us through this journey. Let's move toward victory and growth together. Let's move toward our LORD Jesus Christ. This week I will be sharing how God gave me one amazing tool that led to another amazing tool. Let's listen to Him and move with Him! Amen? Slow Stitching This week's slow stitching has been a mix of crochet and embroidery. The yarn is Mini Moochi by Crystal Palace Yarns and is color 105. I don't know the name, but I'll call it beautiful! It also has a special memory - my husband and I went on a special "buy what you want" visit to a yarn boutique. And, boy, did I ever indulge!
Philippians 4:10 Remember the lesson from Philippians 4:9? Learn from our mistakes - as Paul did. Turn it around - as Paul did.
Find God's peace - as Paul did. I'm working hard to find God's peace with the "new" me. Yesterday's "Survivor's Rant" is definitely true - frustration and grief abound. (To understand this post, you might want to read yesterday's post.) But, I trust God's plan for my life...even this different life post-cancer. I just need to make peace with it and His will. Funny, it seems like an oxy moron - trusting God yet needing to find peace with His plan... Yet, that's where I am right now. As I write, these words keep coming to me: "He knows the way that I take." After I searched for them online, I found this verse from Job:
And this my dear reader, is my peace, my smile, my hug from my Abba Father! You see, during my initial treatment for triple negative breast cancer, I was strong enough to walk 2 miles twice a day. The LORD prompted me to begin my walk with praise and worship music. Then, He asked me to listen to the book of Job EVERY DAY, twice a day. I did this for a at least 8 weeks: for such a time as this. Chemo brain has made me fuzzy, but these words keep coming to my mind tonight. I have found peace as I'm writing this post. It's ok if I'm not the same strong and healthy child of the King anymore. It's ok. Because, He knows the way I take and I shall come forth as gold because even though I didn't have peace, I still trusted Him. And so can you. Whatever you are going through, whatever you have lost, whatever your heart's cry is, you can trust God. Amen.
Slow Stitching I'm hoping to make mor progress on Prayer Shawl #5!
I'm using Yarn Bee's Sugar Wheel in Bubble Gum Trail. These "wheels" of yarn are a nice change from our traditional variegated yarns. Thus far this is one skein. I'm thinking this shawl will use about 1 1/3 skein of yarn.
I'm also looking forward to some down time to work on the Advent Calendar for my grandkiddos! It may not make it for this year, but we'll see!
Here's what I was able to accomplish today!
I have 1-8 embroidered and hopefully by the end of the week all of these will be joined by a blanket stitch. The back stitch, Thread Heaven and shorter strands have been working well. These just may be done on time!
Stash Report
I bought two yards of beautiful gauze on sale to make some infinity scarves. I also purchased this kit to learn paper foundation piecing!
The class was fun! I'm hoping to finish this project before Christmas!
Fiber
Stash Report: November 12, 2017
(started
6/11/17)
Fabric used this week
3
5/8 yds
Fabric used to date
45 ¾ yds
Fabric Added this
week
4
1/6 yds
Fabric Added this
year
41
2/3 yds
Net Fabric
4 1/12 yds
Yarn used this week
2 oz
Yarn used to date
124 oz
Yarn Added this week
7 oz
Yarn Added to date
149 oz
Net Yarn
25 oz
Looking at my numbers, I wonder if I could use 100 yards of fabric in 2018? if I could use 200 yards of yarn? Hmmmm.....
Saturday's Song This week I have been so stressed out! My cyclical oncology follow up appointment was supposed to be this month. With all the new diagnosis, metastasis and recurrences around me, I postponed all my tests and labs because I was afraid. And then I heard this song. Is there something
that has you frozen with fear as well? I hope this song blesses you! Slow Stitching I have enjoyed hand sewing the binding on this baby quilt. I'm also reminded as to why I hire my daughter to bind my quilts....hurting hands! But, oh! How I love hand sewing bindings!
I've made progress on this Donation Prayer
Shawl #2. I've decided to number the shawls I donate to the Prayer Shawl
Ministry so that I can keep track of what I'm talking about! :) The
pattern is my own. I was just messing around and here it is. It's a
combination of very common stitches, chain, double crochet....
UPDATE: By the way, I saw this pattern on Fiber Flux. Her directions are fabulous! It's really interesting to see how different it looks with a bulkier yarn!
Stash Report
Fiber
Stash Report: July 30, 2017
(started
6/11/17)
Fabric used this week
5
yds
Fabric used to date
11
7/8 yds
Fabric Added this
week
2
yds
Fabric Added this
year
13
1/8yds
Net Fabric
1
¼ yds
Yarn used this week
14 oz
Yarn used to date
71 oz
Yarn Added this week
7 oz
Yarn Added to date
41 oz
Net Yarn
30 oz
Here's the fabric I bought!
It's called "Cartas Marcadas" by De Leon Degn Group from the Alexander Henry Fabrics Collection. I'm finally in the black, though just
barely!
